RIM-116 RAM Rolling Airframe Missile

The RAM program is designed to provide surface ships with an effective, low-cost, lightweight,
self-defense system which will provide an improved capability to engage and defeat incoming antiship
cruise missiles (ASCMs). RAM is a joint United States and German venture to design an effective, low cost, lightweight quick-reaction, self-defense system which will increase the survivability of otherwise undefended ships. It is a 5 inch missile that utilizes SIDEWINDER technology for the warhead and rocket motor, and the STINGER missile’s seeker. Cueing is provided by the ship’s ESM suite or radar. The MK-31 RAM Guided Missile Weapon System (GMWS) is defined as the MK-49 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) and the MK-44 Guided Missile Round Pack (GMRP).

The RAM Block 0 has a five-inch diameter airframe that rolls in flight and
dual mode, passive radio frequency/infrared (RF/IR) guidance. Initial homing for RAM Block 0 is in
RF, using an ASCM's RF seeker emissions. If the ASCM's IR radiation is acquired, RAM transitions
to IR guidance.

Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) of RAM Block 0 was conducted from January to April 1990. It was assessed to be potentially operationally effective and potentially operationally suitable, but there were shortfalls in its ability to handle, under all environmental and tactical conditions, the full spectrum of threats. In April 1993, a decision was made to pursue rectification of OPEVAL deficiencies by implementing a block upgrade. RAM Block 1 is the upgraded missile.

Effective against a wide spectrum of existing threats, the RAM
Block 1 IR upgrade incorporates a new IR "all-the-way-homing" guidance mode to improve AW performance
against evolving passive and active ASCMs. The Block 1 missile retains all capabilities of the Block 0 missile
while adding two guidance modes, IR only and IR Dual Mode Enable (IRDM). The IR only mode guides on
the IR signature of the ASCM. The IRDM will guide on the IR signature of the ASCM while retaining the
capability of utilizing RF guidance if the ASCM RF signature becomes adequate to guide on. RAM Block I can be launched in an IR all-the-way mode, as well as the dual mode (passive RF, followed by passive IR) used by Block 0.

The launching system and missiles comprise the weapon system.

RAM weapon systems are integrated with the AN/SWY-2 combat system on certain ships and as
part of the Ship Self Defense System (SSDS) on other ships (LSD-41 class ships at this time). The
AN/SWY-2 is comprised of the weapon system and the combat direction system. The combat
direction system employs the existing Mk 23 target acquisition system (TAS) radar and the
AN/SLQ-32(V) electronic warfare support sensor together with threat evaluation and weapons
assignment software resident in the Mk 23 TAS to accomplish threat detection, correlation,
evaluation, and engagement. With SSDS, RAM is part of the engagement suite. For example, on LSD
41-class ships, a typical SSDS engagement suite includes RAM, the PHALANX Close-In Weapon
System Block 1A, and the decoy launch system. SSDS further integrates the AN/SPS-49(V)1 radar
with the medium PRF upgrade, the AN/SPS-67 surface search radar, the AN/SLQ-32(V) sensor,
and the CIWS search radar.
RAM is installed in all five Tarawa (LHA-1)-class amphibious assault ships; LHD 1, 3, 5, and 6; DD-987, and LSD-48. Block 0 missiles and launchers are in production and on schedule, and the missile had successful intercepts in 62 of 64 production-proofing and ship qualification tests. The first fleet firing of the RAM occurred in October 1995 from the USS Peleliu (LHA-5). A successful preliminary design review of the Block 1 IR upgrade was conducted in September 1995. Flight tests of the missile are being conducted during Engineering and Manufacturing Development, prior to authorizing Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP). Milestone III was achieved in FY 1998, to be followed by IOC in FY 1999.